Vocabulary7 min read491 views
False Friends Between French and Korean (There Are More Than You Think)
Korean borrowed hundreds of words from French and English, but often with a different meaning. Watch out for the traps.
Published on February 4, 2026
When French (or English) Betrays You in Korea
Korean uses many loanwords (외래어) from French and English, but often with different meanings.
Real False Friends
서비스 (seobiseu) ≠ "Service"
Means "free / on the house." At a restaurant, 서비스에요 = "it's free."
콘센트 (konsenteu) ≠ "Consent"
Means... electrical outlet.
미팅 (miting) ≠ Just "Meeting"
Can also mean a group blind date, not just a work meeting.
💡 파이팅 (fighting) — used everywhere in Korea but means nothing in actual English!
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